Raman defeats Bass in LA mayoral race after 2025 fires
The city council member unseated the former congressman, who conceded on social media after losing her bid for a third term.
By Anthony Foster ·
Nithya Raman unseated incumbent Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. Raman, a democratic socialist and city council member, defeated Bass in a contest that saw voters reject the former U.S. House representative. Bass had served as Los Angeles' first Black female mayor and had never lost a political race before this election.
The campaign was defined by the aftermath of the 2025 Los Angeles fires, which killed dozens of people and destroyed neighborhoods across the area. Bass faced heavy criticism for her absence during the emergency and the city's overall response to the disaster. Raman positioned herself as the choice for change, promising to fix what she called the broken status quo.
Raman's platform focused on reducing homelessness, increasing housing stock, and saving Hollywood jobs from cuts. She also pledged to protect residents from immigration enforcement efforts and improve city infrastructure, including roads and beautification projects. Her candidacy drew comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another democratic socialist who ran on a progressive platform.
Bass announced her concession on social media on Thursday. She wrote that while the outcome was not what they hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken. Bass stated that moving the city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us and that she believes in the promise of a better life for all.
Raman entered the race as a long-shot candidate but built support among younger voters. She previously defeated reality star Spencer Pratt in the primary earlier this year. Her victory places a democratic socialist in charge of the second most populous city in the United States, joining Mamdani in leading a major metropolitan area.
Washington, D.C., also elected democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George as its new mayor. President Donald Trump commented on these progressive wins at the White House. He said that if you go by history, it is going to be a disaster. Such candidates have become a focal point of attacks by Republicans.
The incoming mayor will oversee major events, including hosting the Super Bowl in 2027 and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Bass had deep roots in Los Angeles, having worked as a community organizer during the 1992 riots over the beating of Rodney King. Raman, an Indian immigrant, will now lead the city through these upcoming milestones.
